Convenience stores plan more fresh food

By Amy Su / Staff reporter

Tue, Mar 19, 2013 - Page 13

With an eye on the potential of the dining-out market, the nation’s two largest convenience store chains both plan to expand their fresh-food business and increase large stores with more seats.

President Chain Store Corp (統一超商), which operates the nation’s largest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, yesterday announced it would offer more fresh-food products — including both main courses and side-dishes — to give consumers up to 800 set-meal choices.

“The latest survey by the company showed that about 80 percent of office workers in Taiwan eat out twice a day, giving us the idea to make our convenience stores into fast-and-easy restaurants,” a President Chain manager surnamed Wang (王) told a press conference.

The dine-out market in Taiwan increased to NT$310 billion (US$10.43 billion) last year, up 55 percent from two years ago, the firm said.

The company posted NT$134.57 billion in sales last year, with sales of fresh food accounting for a record 18 percent.

Taiwan FamilyMart Co (全家便利商店) also aims to boost revenue from its food and beverage products by 20 percent this year from NT$7.7 billion last year. The company’s revenue totaled NT$53.92 billion last year.

The nation’s second-largest convenience store operator is expected to increase the total number of FamilyMart stores to 2,900 from 2,850 by the end of the year.